Alabama

Zip line at Ruby Falls glides across treetops

Ruby Falls CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga's Ruby Falls has been a favorite below-ground family attraction for generations.This month, its appeal comes into the light - the treetops, actually.

The Ruby Falls ZIPstream Aerial Adventure is a new obstacle course of sorts - a series of self-directed courses for children and adults to move through "tree-to-tree" activities as high as 50 feet off the ground.

It's being called the first adventure of its type in Tennessee.

Like ski resort slopes, courses are graded by colors and shapes.

Colored diamonds progress from green (beginner) to blue, and will include the more difficult red and black levels soon.

The 20 high-wire activities include ladders, nets, walkways, bridges, tunnels and zip lines where you can slide from point to point from a wire.

Completing both courses takes about 90 minutes.

Coming in June is an orange diamond children's course for kids ages 6-10 who have a vertical reach of at least 55 inches and are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

All courses use a fancy "belay system" that ensures a continuous connection to the safety system, while also engaging people to move forward.

The staff shows how to use the belay system and supervises all courses.

Ruby Falls is home to the tallest and deepest underground waterfall accessible to the public in the United States.

Go to rubyfalls.com for info on the attraction or rubyfallsZIP.com for info on the Ruby Falls ZIPstream Aerial Adventure.

Ruby Falls ZIPstream is operated by The Adventure Guild (www.theadventureguild.com).Maximum weight for all courses is 275 pounds.

For the green and blue courses, participants must be at least 11 and have a vertical reach of 70 inches.